Thanks to Brian Hoop in the Office of Neighborhood Involvement for highlighting the following data:

The Auditor this week released the results of Portland's annual community survey.

Here are the two questions relating to civic participation, which the Office of Neighborhood Involvement requested to be included on the yearly community survey:

Question 24: In the past 12 months, how oftenhave you been involved in acommunity project or attendeda public meeting?

Improvement seen in the "3 to 5 times" and "More than 10 times" categories.

Never (2010) 63%, (2009) 63%

Once or twice (2010) 26%, (2009) 26%

3 to 5 times (2010) 7%, (2009) 6%

6 to 10 times (2010) 2%, (2009) 2%

More than 10 times (2010) 3%, (2009) 2%

Question 26: Opportunities to influencegovernment decisions

Decline in the Very Good and Good categories, improvement in neutral

Very good (2010) 4%, (2009) 5%

Good (2010) 24%, (2009) 27%

Neutral (2010) 42%, (2009) 39%

Bad (2010) 17%, (2009) 17%

Very bad (2010) 13%, (2009) 13%

I appreciate knowing the objective data. I'm glad to know more citizens are involved, and sad to hear many don't feel there are adequate opportunities to influence City government decisions. I will keep working to improve on both measures.